"We have proposed Greta Thunberg because if we do nothing to halt climate change, it will be the cause of wars, conflict and refugees," Norwegian Socialist MP Freddy Andre Ovstegard told AFP news agency.

"Greta Thunberg has launched a mass movement which I see as a major contribution to peace," he added.

What are the school protests?

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Media captionThe students skipping school to fight for action against climate change

On Friday, thousands of schoolchildren are expected to strike again against climate change in more than 100 countries around the world.

The school strikes were inspired by the Fridays For The Future movement started by Ms Thunberg under the hashtag #FridaysForFuture.

So far, there have been regular walkouts around the world, including in countries likes Germany, Belgium, the UK, France, Australia and Japan.

But Friday's protest is billed as the biggest so far.

Who is Greta Thunberg?

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Media captionThe Swedish teen behind the climate strikes

The Swedish teenager - who on her Twitter page describes herself as "a 16-year-old climate activist with Asperger [syndrome]" - first staged a school strike for the climate in front of the Swedish parliament in August last year.

Since then, she has been missing lessons most Fridays to stage her regular protests.

She continued to gain international attention after speaking at the UN Climate Talks in Poland in December and at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.